Improvement in combined steam-condensers, aerators, and filters



UNITED STATES 'PA. 'rENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A.LIGHTHALL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.A

IMPROVEMENT INCOMBINED STEAM-CONDENSVERS, AERATORS, AND FlLTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 155,737, dated October A6, 1874; application filed July :7, 1874. c

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. LIGHT- HALL, of the city of Brooklyn, Kings county,

in the State of New York, haveinvented an Improvement in a Combined Steam-Conthis specification.

Figure lis a side elevationof my combined steam-condenser, aerator, and lter. Fig. 2 is aplan or top view, and Figs. 3 and tendv views of the same. Fig.5 is a central` vertical section of the filter.

y My invention relates to the combination oi'- a steam-condenser, aerator, and filter, for the production of distilled water, and consists of; the apparatus hereinafter described, wherein' the introduction lof the. steam into the condenser is made to cause a partial vacuum in the filter, thereby facilitating the passagei through the filter ofthe water, and at the; Sametime reducing its temperature.

Ais the steam-condenser, not essentially; `dilfering in construction from condensers nr use. It consists oi' a large number of tubes, into which the steam is introduced to be condensed, i-nclosed in a water-tight case o'r tank,l through which cold water iscaused to circulate, in contact withthe said pipes. These pipes all open into steam-tight chambers at the ends of the case, and these chambers are divided into compartments by the divisionplates c and b, whereby the tubes are divided into three series, the steam passing through the upper series, No. 1, into the steam-cham'- ber at the opposite end of the case, then back through the series No. 2, that lie between the plates a, andb, and then back again and out of the condenser through the series N o. 3, lying below plate b, thus protracting the condensing and cooling action taking place in the tubes. B is a filter, formed of a water-tight case or tank, divided, preferably, into several compartments, so arranged that waterpassing from one end to the other of the case shall circulate alternately downward through one compartment, and upward through another. To this end the case is supplied with a false perforated bottom, c, and the partitions d and f rest with the lower edges against the perforated bottoin,`the upper edges being fastened to the top or cover of the case B with water-tight screws. The middle partition c, extending through the perforated bottom, is fastened with a water-tight seam to the bottom of the case, but does not extend upward quite to the top of the case. vThe several comerator, through wh-ichthe steam for condensation is introduced into the condenser. The end of this conductor is contracted, forming a small opening or nozzle, g, as seen in Fig. 3, and this nozzle is inserted into the pipe D with steam-tight connection. Just opposite 'the nozzle g a branch of the pipe E, leading from one end of the filtering case or tank B, entersthe pipe l).

This arrangement of parts will be recognized as an injector, whereby the passage of a current of steam into the condenser through the nozzle g will rapidly exhaust and carry with it the air from. the pipe E, thereby eX- hausting the air from the compartment in the h'lter,from.which the said pipe leads. The pipe E is represented as open at the upper ends. It has, however, a valve, h, near the top, whereby it may be closed, or more or less Vair may be admitted, thereby regulating at pleasure, the draft of the air from the filter.

F is a water-conductor, for discharging the water of condensation from .the condenser into the lter. G is an air-pipe, opening out of the lower compartment, No. 3, of the steam-chamber, whereby the air that has been introduced with the. steam, and which has passed through the condenser, may be permitted to escape, or, at pleasure, be drawn down into the lilter through the branch pipe H, which, connecting with the said pipe G, near the top, leads to and opens into the end ofthe filter at which the water is introduced. I is the induction-pipe, through which the cold water is introduced into the condenser, preferably by two or more branches, J K, for the better distribution of the water over the pipes in the condenser. L is the ednctionpipe, through which the water is discharged from the condenser.

As will be observed, the water is introduced at the bottom of the condenser, and discharged at the top, while the steam to be condensed is introduced into the condensing-pipes at the top of the condenser, passes back and forth downward through the several series of tubes, and the water of condensation is in the lower series of pipes, and just before its discharge subjected to the cooling action of the water when it is entering the condenser, or when it is coolest. The water in this lter, after passing through the' filtering medium in the several compartments, is discharged for use through the pipe M, the water being thereby kept drawn down in the filter so as to leave a clear air-space above it, from which the air may be drawn out through the pipe E, thereby forming the partial vacuum in the lter hereinbefore referred to.

Suitable valves and stop-cocks are provided at the points where they may be required, and openings or hand-holes, with proper air-tight or water-tight covers, are made in various parts of the apparatus for convenience in clearing and inspecting the interior of its several parts. The drawings show several of these openings, not lettered as not being important.

The operation of this apparatusis as follows: By a suitable force-pump cold water is driven into and made to circulate through the condenser-case A, entering at the bottom by the pipe l, and discharged at the top by the pipe L, the condenser-tube being thereby surrounded by cold water circulatin g among them, the lower series of pipes being subjected to the action of the coolest water as it enters the condenser. The steam to be condensed is then introduced through the .-pipe C, nozzle g, and

pipe D. 'The water, resulting from the cona partial vacuum will be formed in the lter 'by the action of the steam passing through the nozzle g, drawing air from the pipe E. Such air mingles with the Asteam in its condensation, and very completely aeratcs the water formed by such condensation. Under the pressure upon the water caused by the partial vacuum it (the water) :is urged through the filter more rapidlyT than it would be without the vacuum. At the same time the temperature of the water is somewhat reduced in consequence of the increased evaporation which takes place in the lter because of the vacuum. The surplus air, at the erid of the condenser at which the distilled water is discharged, is, by the action of the ejector, drawn od through the pipes C and H and returned into the con.- denser at the opposite end with the Steam, thus facilitating the introduction and circulation of air within the condenser for the aeration of the distilled water.

I do not claim here the novel construction of the lter herein described and shown. The same being a distinct invention I intend to make a separate application for anindependent patent therefor.

What I claim as my inyention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a steam-condenser A, a filter, B, and an aerator formed in the pipe D by the nozzle g, the air-pipe E supplying air to the aerator leading from the lter, so that air supplied toaerate the steam entering the condenser is drawn from the filter, thus creating a partial vacuum therein, as and for the purpose specitied.

2. The steam-condenser A and the lter B with the pipes Gr H E D C and injector-nozzle g, combined and operating as and for the purpose described.

Witness my hand this 3d day of July, 1874.

WVM. A. LIGHTHALL. 

